Instructors:

Dr. Jane M. Bowles jbowles@uwo.ca
Department of Biology
University of Western Ontario
London, ON N6A 5B7

Dr. Paul Handford
Professor Emeritus

Contact Brenda Beretta bberetta@uwo.ca , fax 519-850-2343

Dates:

April 27 ^th to May 22 ^nd , 2013 3.5 weeks, 0.5 credit

PLEASE NOTE: although this is a half-course credit, it lasts longer than the standard 2-week format, even though it might be advertised on some OUPFB documents as a "2-week course". This is merely standard terminology in the OUPFP system.

Location:

Mostly Arizona and southern California, USA.

Cost:

Can$1200

Includes all costs but meals (usually ~US$250 more)

Prerequisites:

Completed 2 ^nd year, or introductory courses in ecology and statistics.
TETANUS SHOTS up to date.
A SENSE OF HUMOUR comes in very useful.
You will need a PASSPORT and to be eligible to enter the USA.

Enrolment:

12 students

Description:

One day at Western for orientation sessions; leave next day and drive to the southwest United States. Main theme is ecology of, and adaptations for, life in deserts, with emphasis on the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

The class will spend ~15 days in the field visiting various sections of the N. American arid lands learning the major elements of the vegetation and certain other aspects of the biota. Students will maintain individual Field Journals, to be handed in at the end of the course. There will be class research projects, to be written up later, more or less as a lab report. All nights are spent in the field, except for the first and the last, which are spent on the freeway, as we drive continuously (apart from meal stops) to and from the rough vicinity of Denver. You will need use of a tent, sleeping bag, foamy, canteen and eating tools: most meals are camp-style, except when we are doing serious travelling. On some days we spend long hours in a hot, dusty, van. When we are in areas with no ready water supply and relying on packed water, there is no luxury water-use e.g. for hair washing or laundry. Generally, conditions do not suit the fastidious of faint of heart - you must be prepared to be a bit of a grease-ball for some days at a stretch.

Evaluation:

Participation and involvement during the course - 20%
Field Journal – 40%
Reports on class research projects – 40%

Policy on cancellation and refunds:

Your enrollment is confirmed by UWO receiving full payment byMarch 1.

Only money orders or certified cheques will be accepted (no personal cheques). After this date you will be replaced by someone on the waiting list.

Any cancellations must be in writing by March 15. If a replacement is found you will receive full refund. If no replacement is found your deposit is forfeit.

If you cancel after March 15, we retain your full payment unless we can find a replacement. If replacement is found you get your money back.

• Course Material
  An Introduction to Desert Ecology
  Climate and Deserts
  The Deserts of North America
  Notes on Keeping a Field Journal
  The Identification of Plant Taxa
  Guide to Plant Taxonomy
  
  
• Risk Form
• Emergency Contact Information